Natasha Akpoti is just a woman like Benazir Bhutto. Benazir was a passionate, brilliant woman who loved her coun­try, her people, her family and friends. She was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Pakistani Prime Minister, who was executed by the state of Pakistan. It’s difficult to describe Benazir Bhu­tto in words. She was a woman of so many faces; she was so many things to so many different people.

Sometimes, I still look back and find myself humbled by the thought that I had created a ‘look’ for such an empowering woman, a great amazon and iconic global figure. As time pro­gressed, Benazir became more than just a politician – she was an inspiration to many of us who desire a decent society and detest violence. Sadly, the assassi­nation of Benazir Bhutto, which took place on 27 December, 2007 in Rawalpin­di, Pakistan, led to a tragic end of the great amazon.

Benazir Bhutto profoundly posited: “You can imprison a man, but not an idea. You can exile a man, but not an idea.” “Ultimately, leadership is about the strength of one’s convictions, the ability to endure the punches, and the energy to promote an idea.” These are some of her profound statements (quotes).

Eight years after fleeing into exile, Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan in October 2007 to contest elections in which she had a strong chance of be­coming Prime Minister again. Both her supporters and her family’s old enemies were prepared.

There comes the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan, a rival of General Pervez Musharraf, and an important role model for Malala. Benazir Bhutto is a talented and charismatic politician who uses her influence to fight for wom­en’s rights, and claims that she will fight the forces of religious extremism in her country.

In her own world, Natasha Hadiza Akpoti is a Nigerian politician and lawyer, who serves as a member of the 10th Nigerian National Assembly, repre­senting Kogi Central Senatorial District since 2023. She is the first elected female senator in Kogi State. Ironically, events in the past few weeks – characterized by nostalgia – evoke the sad memories of the dark era of which the global world rise to condemn.

Natasha on Tuesday alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio contracted the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to commence her recall and assassination. Speaking during her homecoming rally on Tues­day, April 1, Akpoti-Uduaghan told her supporters that although the alleged plot was not publicly revealed, she had officially reported the matter to the In­spector General of Police.

Detailing the events, she alleged that Akpabio had initially contacted Kogi Governor Usman Ododo, urging him to begin her recall process. When Ododo reportedly declined, citing her strong grassroots support, Akpabio allegedly reached out to Bello, promising to fund the recall effort. Against all odds, she stormed her constituency in a chopper, defying warnings by the police, state governor, and a curfew declared in her local government to stop her from com­ing home.

Historically significant, it has been alleged that we have proactive gov­ernments and security forces when it comes to moving against opposition elements and innocent citizens who are demanding for their fundamental rights and responsive leadership, but sleeping ones when it comes to bandit­ry, insurgency, herdsmen killings and other criminal issues.

In conclusion, the world is tired of the dark era of politically-motivated assassinations; aside from the fact that this is an extremely stupid thing to do. Nevertheless, the memories of the past ugly examples are there to put us in check. Apart from the example of Benazir Bhutto, the sad memories of many others including that of Chief James Ajibola Ige (Bola Ige), who was shot to death right in his home at Bodija in Ibadan at 8:30pm evening of Sunday, 23 December, 2001, are clear examples of politically-motivated assassinations. These evils must stop in Nigeria.

*Odusanya writes via odusanyagold@gmail. com